Competitive hammering toy apparatus



F65. 3, 1959 s. REYNOLDS Q 2,871,618

CQMPETITIVE HAMMERING TOY APPARATUS Filed Mai-ch so, 1956 /0 /&'

INVENTbR Jckuyler le ynolds YW/M'7F ATTORNEY Unite This invention relates to percussive games or toys, the same having particular reference to toys of the type wherein a leg-supported platform is provided with longitudinally spaced openings for the slidable reception of vertically disposed posts which, at their upper ends, project above the platform and have the lower ends dis- States Patent posed beneath the platform for contacting engagement with opposite end portions of a pivotally mounted ejector member, the arrangement of parts being such that players, by striking the upper ends of the posts with mallets, or other percussive devices, will eventually rock the ejector member to a position causing it to force one or the other of the posts or pegs out of the platform opening occupied thereby, the objective sought in playing the toy or game.

A leading object of the present invention is to provide a percussive toy of this kind with improved means for exerting frictional pressures on the sides of the pivotally mounted ejector member and the posts in order to require the players to employ strength, skill and dexterity in delivering percussive blows to the posts for driving the same downwardly to positions in which one or the other of the posts will be forced out of the platform opening normally occupied thereby, whereby through forces of reactions developed by the ejected post following abrupt release of frictional confining forces thereon, said post will be caused suddenly to spring upwardly in the air, providing thereby interest-stimulating kinetic motion at the conclusion of each game.

Another object of the invention is to provide in such a toy a pair of spaced parallel gripping strips which are fixed to and arranged longitudinally beneath the platform, and between the outer end portions of these strips the posts and side surfaces of the pivoted ejector member are frictionally received and gripped, the central portion of the strips receiving a transversely extending clamping means for flexing the strips to cause them, in an adjustable manner, to exert desired frictional forces both on the ejector member and the posts.

An additional object is to provide tie means for limiting upward springing movement of the posts upon their release from the platform openings, whereby to prevent the same from striking the players or causing other accidental injury or damage.

For a further understanding of the invention, including other objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved percussive y;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view, the plane of the figure being indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a platform which is supported at the corners thereof by four vertically depending legs 11. The platform is formed with a pair of spaced, centrally and longitudinally disposed, vertically extending openings 12 in which are slidably mounted cylindrical posts or pins 13. The upper ends of the posts or pins are provided with resilient impact-receiving caps 14 which are adapted to be struck by the players of the game with hammers or mallets, such as those shown. at 15.

Carried by and depending from the under part of the platform 10 is a pair of transversely spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending, post-gripping, wooden strips 16. These strips are secured to the platform by the use of vertically extending screws 17 which pass through the platform so that their threaded shanks are received in the upper portions of the strips at positions substantially midway of their lengths.

Positioned for pivotal movement in the space 18 formed between the strips 16, and frictionally gripped by the inner vertical surfaces of the lower portions of the strips, is an oscillatory post-ejecting, lever bar 19. This bar is mounted for swinging movement midway of its length on a headed cross bolt 20 which passes through aligned openings formed in transverse registry in lower midway portions of the strips 16 and centrally of bar 19. The outer end of the threaded shank of the bolt 20 receives a threaded clamping nut and locking nuts 21 and 22, respectively, the nut 21 bearing on a washer 23. By tightening the nut 21 against the washer, the clamping strips are adapted to be forced or sprung toward each other and into desired frictional engagement with the sides of the bar 19, whereby to provide means resisting turning movement of the bar 19 andupward movement on the part of the posts 13, since the latter are likewise frictionally gripped by the clamping action of the strips. By the use of the lock nut 22 the degree of friction exerted by the strips, under the adjustment of the nut 21, may be maintained.

The game or toy thus formed is usually played by two players, who deliver blows to the capped upper ends of the posts 13 through the use of the hammers or mallets 15. The player delivering more forceful blows to or striking his post a greater number of times than his opponent is enabled to drive his post downwardly against the resistance to such movement offered by the clamping action of the strips 16 and the friction-retarded action produced thereby on the bar 19. Such downward movement results in rocking the lever bar about its pivotal mounting on the cross bolt 20, causing the opposite end of the bar to elevate the post of the opposing player until the elevated post is released from the frictional gripping action of the strips 16 thereon. When .thus released the post springs upwardly through the opening 12 therefor in the platform 10 to a position above the platform, the movement of the released post being preferably checkedby the use of a tape 24, the latter having its ends connected with the post caps 14 and its intermediate portion fastened as at 25 to the platform.

In this manner the released or ejected post is prevented from causing injury or damage to persons or objects in its path. It will be seen that by fastening the upper, midway portions of the strips 16 to the platform, through the use of the vertical screws 17, the lower and outer portions of the strips may be flexed or sprung inwardly through tightening the nuts 21 and 22 of the cross bolt 20, thereby enabling the strips, throughout their full lengths, to exert a desired clamping action on the lever bar and posts. The posts move freely through the platform openings 12 when out of engagement with the frictional clamping strips.

The toy as so constructed offers exercise and amusement for its players or users, particularly to small boys,

' who enjoy the operation of hammering the posts and the competition involved in endeavoring to release an opponents post for upward springing movement. 'The action of the toy over prior devices of this kind is substantially improved by the adjustable friction-exerting clamping strips 16. The tying tape or tapes for the posts also constitute a' safety feature of practical importance in the use of the toy. In starting a game, the posts are manually inserted in the platform openings and forced downwardly between the clamping strips until the bar 19 is horizontally disposed and the posts project equal distances above the upper surface of the platform. The players then start simultaneously to apply percussive hammer blows to the uoper ends of the posts until one player succeeds in dislodging the post of the opposing player.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a platform having a pair of longitudinally spaced openings formed therein; a vertically disposed post freely and slidably received in each of said openings and extending outwardly beyond opposite sides of said platform; a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending, parallel strips secured to and depending vertically from the under part of said platform, said strips occupying planes disposed at each side of saidopenings; a lever bar arranged longitudinally between and coextensive with said strips, said bar having opposite end surfaces disposed for engagement with the lower ends of the posts; pivot means passing transversely and centrally through said strips and pivotally supporting said bar intermediate the ends thereof;

and clamping means cooperative with said pivot means for applying inwardly directed clam ing forces to said strips to maintain the latter in frictional contact with said bar and posts.

2. A toy comprising a horizontally disposed, leg-supported platform having a pair of longitudinally spaced, vertical openings formed therein; a post freely and slidably mounted in each of said openings for projection above and below the platform; transversely spaced, longitudinally extending, parallel strips carried by and depending vertically from the under part of said platform to each side of said openings; a lever bar arranged between said strips for contacting engagement with the lower ends of said posts; and means pivotally uniting said bar substantially midway of its length with said strips for rocking movement in response to downward movementof one of the posts in contact therewith, the relative spacing between said strips being such as to maintain the inner adjoining surfaces thereof in frictional, movement-resisting engagement with the lower end portions of the posts when initially positioned in said openings.

3. A toy comprising a horizontally disposed, leg-supported platform having a pair of longitudinally spaced, vertical openings formed therein; apair of posts freely and slidably mounted in said openings for projection above and below the platform; transversely spaced, longitudinally extending, parallel strips carried by and depending vertically from the under part of said platform; alever bar arranged between said strips for contacting engagement with the lower ends of said posts;

means pivotally uniting said bar substantially midway" of its length with said strips for swinging movement in a vertical plane, said bar being operable in response to downward pounding forces applied to either of said posts to exert an upwardly directed force upon the other of said posts, the relative spacing of said strips being such as to maintain the inner adjoining surfaces thereof in frictional, movement-resisiting engagement with said bar and the lower ends of the posts extending through said openings; and adjustable means cooperative with said strips for varying the relative spacing thereof, whereby to control the degree of frictional pressure exerted by said strips upon said bar and posts.

4. in a competitive pounding toy; a substantially flat, horizontally arranged platform member formed with a pair of relatively spaced peg-receiving openings extending therethrough; a pounding peg freely and slidably received in each of said openings; a lever arranged beneath said platform member in alignment with the openings formed therein and mounted for pivotal swinging movement in a vertical plane about an axis intermediate the ends thereof; said lever having opposite end portions arranged to engage the end portions of a pair of pegs received in the openings formed in said platform member and being operable in response to downwardly pounding forces applied to either of said pegs to exert an upwardly directed force upon the opposite peg; and friction-applying means mounted beneath said platform on each side of the openings formed therein and engageable with the lower portions of said pegs for retarding upward-movement thereof in response to forces applied thereto through said lever.

5. A competitive hammering toy as defined in claim 4. including means connected with said friction-applying means for varying the amount of frictional force exerted by said friction-applyingmeans'upon said pegs.

6. A competitive toy'comprising a platform having a pair of longitudinally spaced openings formed therethrough; a vertically disposed post freely and slidably received in each of said openings; a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending, parallel strips secured to and depending vertically from the under part of said platform, said strips occupying planes disposed at each side of said openings; a lever bar arranged longitudinally between and coextensive with said strips, said bar having outer end portions arranged to engage the lower ends of said posts; means passing transversely through said strips and said bar supporting said bar for pivotal swinging movement in a vertical plane beneath said platform; and clamping means cooperative with said strips for applying inwardly directed clamping forces thereto to maintain the latter in frictional contact with said posts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 145,504 Beder Sept. 3, 1946 2,403,522 Goldstein'et al. July 9, 1946 2,564,348 Swirkal Aug. 14, 1951 

